Draft offense, trade for defense, draft offense

by NomadJackson on Feb 21, 2011 10:58 PM MST

It's been a tough but interesting time to be an Avs fan. A brutal week finalized with two very popular and good young players dealt for a guy who has been somewhat slow to realize his potential as a dominant, #1 D man. For a team that's seen it's once high powered offensive mojo go AWOL, it put a redundant nail in the season's already nailed coffin.

Thinking about the recent and likely false Dater circulated LA/COL rumor, I started to realize there could be something to the strategy. The Avs have had good success in the draft in recent years drafting offensively gifted players (including a slew of puck moving defensemen). But when it comes to players who are truly skilled defensive players, you could list a few forwards that could be considered potential defensive specialists, but no defensemen really stand out.

Maybe this all makes sense. There already looks to be another star offensive player on the way in Joey Hishon. Their track record for identifying offensively skilled players is proven. If Stastny were on the table, even though dealing him would be a crushing blow to the current team's offense, getting back proven defensive talent might be this team's best chance building a solid defensive core.

Once that's done, younger offensive players coming would have a better chance to succeed behind an experienced defensive corps, who would still be young enough to grow with the newly built forward corps.

We'll see what happens before the deadline passes, but it's something to think about if any more popular, young offensive players are traded...

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yeah but we want to be careful we don’t turn into a version of the Maple Leafs where we have a strong D, mixed results in net, and forward lines filled with Duchene and a bunch of top 9 players. Stastny has a few things going for him… he is generally a PPG center (there are less of those than there are teams in the NHL). He is of Stastny name and Lacroix wanted him in the draft. He makes 6.6 million and with the Avs barely over the cap floor and needing to really add salary in the offseason to remain above…they would need big time salary coming back.
Can Hishon replace Stastny’s offense? Potentially yes… but is Philly hurting having Carter, RIchards, and Briere?

2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing

by zandar on Feb 22, 2011 7:13 AM MST reply actions

Obviously it’d be a gamble. Could the Avs become like Toronto? It could happen, but then if there’s one thing about this organization that is a true strength right now it’s the scouting, and the reason the scouting is a strength is because of their proven record identifying offensive talent that translates to the NHL level. Toronto cannot count that as a proven asset. Either way the Avs have to rebuild the defense, which they only just started with the EJ trade, who is still young and developing himself. Kroenke won’t spend like the Flyers ownership will (maybe Stewart wouldn’t have had to be traded had the Avs been looking to free agency or trading for pricier, better players for defensive help). Can they count on getting this talent in the draft, then waiting years for them to develop into solid NHLers? I think it’d be easier for them to count on bringing in more offensive talent.

by NomadJackson on Feb 22, 2011 8:18 AM MST up reply actions

how much of the D really needs “rebuilt” through trades? They currently have EJ, Liles, OByrne, Quincey, Wilson, Hunwick and Holos as a top 7 with guys like Gaunce, Chouinard, Elliott & Barrie coming up. Liles & OB look like one pairing, Wilson? & EJ another then Quincey and Hunwick/Holos. Or go top heavy with EJ&Liles/Quincey&Wilson/OB&Hunwick or Holos? They have 3-4 guys in the system that could upgrade the D in the next year or two so they should only make a move if it brings in another young top pairing D.
as for UFA… there really wasnt much they could do as there were not really any great forwards available (we dont want Kovie for 10 mill) and the Ds all went to real stanley cup contenders like Pittsburgh, Vancouver, NJ (who knew?), etc. Gonchar went to Ottawa but at the time the Avs had good options already in Liles, Shatty, and their young guys. This offseason may have a goalie for the Avs and maybe a solid top 4 D but other than that the UFA period has really started to lack real quality players… especially ones that want to come to a young rebuilding team for anything less than overpayment.

2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing

by zandar on Feb 22, 2011 9:23 AM MST up reply actions

they have the luxury now of only promoting young defensemen when they’re ready to challenge one of the vets on the squad for a spot, that will be nice (knocking on wood about injuries). When healthy this team is a goalie who gives a damn and a top 6 forward from being right in the hunt.

Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Feb 22, 2011 9:25 AM MST up reply actions

the goalie could come from anywhere but that top 6 forward could come from this draft with either (or both) the Avs pick or the StL pick. Hishon is also a possibility and Olver may be factor into a spot (in the top 9 at the very least?)

2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing

by zandar on Feb 22, 2011 9:40 AM MST up reply actions

Hunwick?

No, a thousand times no. Going into next year, barring further action, we have:

Quincey – Johnson
Liles – O’Byrne
Gaunce – Holøs

Wilson

With Chouinard, Elliot, Barrie knocking on the door. Now if we can drop a Jack Johnson (or similar top-tier defenseman) into the mix we have nothing left to work on for a Cup winning defense.

Goaltending is clearly job 1, and filling out the top 6 is job 2. We are well stocked for the bottom 6 between who is on the current roster, guys in Cleveland, and upcoming prospects.

Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!

by niwotsblessing on Feb 22, 2011 10:28 AM MST up reply actions

unless the Avs are still very high on him, I’d expect Hunwick moved before the deadline. Ds are so overvalued right now and too few teams with any real Ds to move. Probably one reason the asking price for Liles is supposedly high

2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing

by zandar on Feb 22, 2011 10:44 AM MST up reply actions

I do think, somewhere, the Avs need to find one or two more high caliber shut down D men to round out the corps. I mean really reliable guys who can slow most offensive attacks in the league. I don’t know if they got anyone who is going to develop into that kind of player. If they had that, I think it’d be easy to fill out the rest of a very good defensive corps with guys like O’Byrne, Quincey, Wilson, Holos, Gaunce, etc.

by NomadJackson on Feb 22, 2011 1:32 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah but how many of those guys are out there let alone two available? You are either stuck with a huge physical guy who can’t move the puck or a smaller positional player who can move it but gets workedover by larger power forwards.

2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing

by zandar on Feb 23, 2011 7:55 AM MST up reply actions